Graeme McFarlane

Practice Areas

Graeme is a founding partner at Roper Greyell and member of its management committee. Graeme focuses on strategic and practical advice to employers on labour, employment and human rights issues in the workplace.

Before he was a lawyer, Graeme was a labour relations expert for several national companies — he brings a client’s perspective and concerns to legal challenges. His clients are varied, and many are leading businesses in British Columbia and Canada.

Graeme guides employers through intricate employment issues including those related to executive compensation, restrictive covenants, non-competition and non-solicitation clauses, stock options and remuneration, benefits, protection of goodwill and protection of reputation.

Adjudicators, mediators, and clients often compliment Graeme for some of the best briefs and opening statements they have encountered. Not afraid to litigate when the time is right, he knows what it takes to create a path that will provide employers the platform on which they can make the correct business decision. Graeme has acted as lead counsel on many leading decisions including a precedent setting decision involving vaccine mandates.

In addition, Graeme assists employers with equity incentive programs, termination strategies, wrongful dismissal, performance management, progressive discipline, union terminations, managing medical information, duty to accommodate, injunctions, court advocacy and mediation and collective agreement grievance arbitration. Graeme has appeared before courts of all jurisdictions in British Columbia as well as before the Labour Relations Board, the Human Rights Tribunal, and the Employment Standards Tribunal.

Outside of the office, Graeme is a Board member of Cypress Ski Club and a member of BC Alpine. He plays the role of cat herder in the busy lives of his 3 children.

Professional Memberships

Canadian Bar Association; Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of British Columbia and Yukon (CPHR BC & YK); Canadian Association of Counsel to Employers; American Bar Association.

Career

Graeme was called to the Bar in British Columbia in 1999 and practiced with Ogilvy Renault (now Norton Rose), before becoming a founding partner of Roper Greyell LLP in 2006.

Education